William Michael McMonigal
Nominated 2017. W.M. “Mike” McMonigal graduated from Berlin High School in 1964. He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1968, going on to get a Juris Doctorate from Marquette’s Law School in 1971. Returning to Berlin he joined his father in his law practice here. In 1975 he became the Family Court Commissioner for Green Lake County, a position he held until 1992. In that year he was appointed Circuit Court judge for Green Lake County by Governor Thompson. He was reelected each term after until he retired in 2011. While...
Read MoreTheodore (Tim) H. Fortnum
Nominated 2016. Lumberjack, Farmer, Machinist, Foundryman, Engineer, Inventor, Auto dealer. A man with many interesting stories to tell is Theodore H. Fortnum, more commonly known by his friends as “Tim” so stated an article in a February 1961 issue of the Berlin Journal. Tim was born August 28, 1874 on a farm at Green Lake center, the 9th child of an immigrant family who came to the U.S. from England. He attended a country school up to 8th grade but continued his love of learning with correspondence courses, reading, and life experiences. Besides farm work, Tim spent winters in lumber camps...
Read MoreMark G. Doll
Nominated 2016. Mark G. Doll graduated from Berlin High School in 1967. He earned a B.A. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1971 and a M.B.A. degree in 1975. The son of a former Berlin High School principal, Mark was born in Berlin the oldest of three children. He credits his teachers (including his dad, George) with giving him a great base to learn. Following his undergraduate degree, Doll started at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in the investment department and worked there in various roles for the next 40 years. While working full-time he completed a Masters...
Read MoreBeverly Ann Biegick Keelor
Nominated 2016. Beverly Ann graduated from Berlin High School in 1948. She attended Oshkosh State Teacher’s College and graduated from Palm Beach Junior College in West Palm Beach, Florida. What started out as a little girl’s dream of dancing became a life-long passion and avocation for Beverly. She began taking lessons at the age of eight and continued to adulthood. All during this time she took every opportunity to perform for family and friends. Another talent she developed was learning to play the marimba. In 1942 she appeared on a radio station in Madison playing her...
Read MoreRobert Wright
Nominated in 2015.Robert Wright was a member of one of the early families of Berlin, the first one arriving here in 1853. Through all the generations the Wrights held a keen interest in community and worked for its betterment. Robert, of the fourth generation, was no different. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1920, he spent about two years at Beloit College and then went to work for Blair & Co. of Chicago, (an investment company) from 1925 to 1929 until the stock market crashed. In 1930, he and his father, Fred W. Wright started the Berlin Finance Co. He remained with this...
Read MoreChristine Stark Christopherson
Christine Stark Christepherson graduated from Berlin High School in 1975. She went on to earn a B.A. in music education at St. Olaf College serving as co-concert Mistress of the St. Olaf Orchestra during her time there. An accomplished violinist, she had been a member of the Oshkosh Civic Symphony during grades 7 to 12 honing her skills and experiences. “Mrs. C surely was a force for the good parts of life.” “Mrs. C. made me the person I am today.” These quotes, attributed to Christine, are just a sample of the many from former students. She did not command a huge salary or a title other...
Read More